Rubbishing the Dry Zone Argument

'Sri Lanka became the Granary of the East when the capital was in the dry zone and when farming was centred in the dry zone. Farming in the dry zone in its pristine glory can be or rather must be emulated again by people of all races.'
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by Thomas Johnpulle

(January 08, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) Some are challenging the worth of military victories gained by security forces recently. Unfortunately the battle is between two groups from Sri Lanka and without a doubt it polarised the society. However, there is no truth in the saying that what security forces captured was part of the dry zone and the Sinhala majority is unwilling to live there because it is the dry zone. This is a pro-separatist myth crated by petty minds.

A careful look at Sri Lanka’s climatic map would show that basically there is a wet zone and a dry zone defined based on average annual rainfall. Districts that fall into the dry zone are: Ampara, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Hambantota, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Kurunegala (most part), Mannar, Monaragala, Mulaitivu, Polonnaruwa, Puttlam, Trincomalee and Vavuniya. According to the 1981 census, which is the latest accurate census, the aggregate population distribution of this area is as follows: Tamil 29%; Sinhala 61% and Muslim 10%. Therefore, the tribal assertion that certain communities cannot live in the dry zone collapses like the de facto LTTE controlled area is collapsing today! Further, this proves that given sufficient security and infrastructure development, Sinhalas would gladly conquer Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mulaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya districts as well. Besides according to the historical accounts of Mahavamsa, their ancestors had in fact dominated the area falling in these districts. How long can genocide, lies and terror keep them away from their land? Looks like not very long.

Another racially motivated argument is that Tamil farmers, especially from the North were better than Sinhala farmers. Obviously Tamil farmers from the north were remarkable in their achievements, but, their Sinhala counterparts were equally good. Both braved the very harsh climate, impossible soil and unforgiving health hazards including malaria and cultivated a variety of crops. A famer in Hambantotai or Monaragala is as equally courageous and hardworking as a famer in Jaffna or Vanni since they face similar challenges. However, Sinhala and Muslim famers in the dry zone, close to LTTE controlled areas were even better. They not only faced the challenges the Northern Tamil famers faced, but also the huge LTTE threat. Without a doubt these farmers are some of the toughest in the world to overcome so many challenges. LTTE launched relentless terror attacks on Sinhala and Muslim farming villages for the past three decades. After what Tamil Tigers did to the people in Kent and Dollar farms, only an exceptionally brave famer would venture into areas where Tigers are active.

The 2002 Norwegian brokered CFA spelled doom for brave farmers as LTTE attacks increased while security forces were debarred from actively protecting them. Still, they braved the barbarianism and thrived. It is worth the while to note that the present round of war broke out when LTTE blocked the sluice gates of the Mavil Aru reservoir forcing mainly Sinhala farmers out of their homes.

The third racially motivated fabrication is about allowing higher than equal education opportunities to Tamils in the dry zone supposedly because of the disadvantages faced by them. As explained above, the majority in the dry zone are Sinhalas, not Tamils. Therefore, allowing unduly higher opportunities for Tamil students to enter government universities is a gross violation of others’ rights. Moreover, there is no justification for people in one district to subsidise the education of another. After all, Sri Lanka is an underdeveloped country and everyone deserves a fair and equitable share of the benefits of taxpayers’ money. In fact a simple assessment of brain drain, district wise, would give an indication of the districts that produces most professionals who contribute back to the country. No one should be advantaged or disadvantaged because of race or climatic zone.

Sri Lanka became the Granary of the East when the capital was in the dry zone and when farming was centred in the dry zone. Farming in the dry zone in its pristine glory can be or rather must be emulated again by people of all races. The structure of man-made lakes, reservoirs and other irrigation systems scattered in the northern part of Sri Lanka raised the eyebrows of modern day engineers. Sadly, not many such projects succeeded in contemporary times mainly due to LTTE attacks and threats.

Time has come to reclaim the vast expanses of land that escaped the plough, development and multiculturalism. Climatic demarcations should not to be allowed to be used by tribal exclusivists.

Interestingly after the fall of Kilinochchi, Tamil Tigers are languishing in thick jungles of the dry zone! - Sri Lanka Guardian